Thinkpads Forum

Im wondering why you cant get the latest USB specs when putting together a 520....

Any chance Lenovo will come up with a 520s model anytime soon...? I know the 400 series offers this option, but I want a bigger screen and Hard Drive, hence Im looking at a 520 specs type machine.

Thanks,
Alex

How many USB 3.0 devices are out there now, though? I'd imagine some time later this year, when the standard is more widespread, it will start coming standard not just on Thinkpads, but on other generic laptops, too.

Most likely because Intel did not include it in the chipset. As a result, it costs more to offer it because it needs its own separate chip and not many people demand it.

Quillz wrote:How many USB 3.0 devices are out there now, though? I'd imagine some time later this year, when the standard is more widespread, it will start coming standard not just on Thinkpads, but on other generic laptops, too.

Have no idea what people at Lenovo were thinking when T520 came out but here in Europe almost all external hard drives are USB 3.

I was considering changing T500 for T520 and no USB 3 was one reason I didnt buy (16:9 screen another ...). P8700 is still pretty decent CPU and I got cheap eSATA and USB 3 expresscards, so I'll probably wait another year and see what will offer.

While I agree that USB 3.0 is still not mainstream, I tend to keep my laptops for quite a long time... on average at least 4-5 years. Hence, I try to buy the most updated version. I think that a 3.0 USB port is going to be very very useful in about 8-12 months from now.... and some external adapter solution just doesnt make sense. Ive looked at the 420S but I want the larger screen and larger Hard Drive.... plus the CPU options on the 520 are more powerful. Im hoping to have one in all laptop solution that includes moderate gaming requirements.

Thanks for any further advice or comments.

If having integrated USB 3.0 (instead of ExpressCard) is really important you could look at the W520 instead; it's basically a T520 with a better graphics card and USB 3.0.

As said above, the main reason it isn't in every model is almost certainly that it is not part of the Intel chipset so it's an extra chip they have to add and they only did it for certain "premium" models.

I have yet to handle a single USB 3.0 device...

Colonel O'Neill wrote:I have yet to handle a single USB 3.0 device...

Me either but about 10% of the USB flash drives and almost half the external hard drives available from NewEgg are 3.0 right now.

jdrou wrote:If having integrated USB 3.0 (instead of ExpressCard) is really important you could look at the W520 instead; it's basically a T520 with a better graphics card and USB 3.0.

As said above, the main reason it isn't in every model is almost certainly that it is not part of the Intel chipset so it's an extra chip they have to add and they only did it for certain "premium" models.

I wish they had a premium version of the T520 with the extra chip.....

I was also considering a W520, but dont these series of machines have to use the much larger power adapters and have other size & bulk issues when compared to the T520... or do they have the same footprint...?

Same footprint. It does come with a much larger 170W power brick but you can use a 90W with some limitations.
See http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=94554